Cur

/kɜːr/

Meaning & Definition

noun

An ill-bred or surly person.

He was known as a cur, always barking at anyone who came near.

A cowardly or despicable person.

Don't be such a cur; stand up for what you believe in.

A mongrel or an inferior dog.

The stray dog was nothing but a cur, wandering the streets in search of food.

Middle English 'curre', possibly from Old Norse 'kur', meaning 'to growl'.

dog's cur

A derogatory term for a worthless or cowardly person.

cur dog's attitude

Describes a person with undesirable or unpleasant characteristics.

mongrel

A dog of mixed breed, especially one that is not purebred.

mut

An informal term for a dog, especially a mixed breed.

An insult for a mean or despicable person.

Don't be such a cur; stand up for yourself.

Used to describe someone who is cowardly.

He ran away instead of facing the challenge like a cur.